Dare Series Collection - Shantel Tessier Page 0,315

weren’t even sure Austin would survive the shooting, and now here she is, wide awake and asking for a favor three days later. She just asked me to go back to her father’s house with Cole. By myself. Not sure what the hell she wants me to do for her, but no was on the tip of my tongue when she asked the guys to leave the room so she could talk to me alone.

“I need you to grab something for me.”

“Can’t Cole get it?” I ask, not wanting to be left alone with him. The last time I was alone with him, his hand was wrapped around my throat, and he told me that I’d owe him a favor. Then Austin showed up. And being her friend was my favor. What started out as payment for my sins ended up becoming my best friend. Although I have a bad way of showing it.

“No.” She sits up better in her bed and flinches from the pain. “I have a journal.” I frown. “I need you to get it. He can’t see it.”

“You want me to bring it to you?”

She shakes her head. “Burn it.”

“Burn it?” I repeat.

She nods. “Yes. It’s in my nightstand.” She grabs my hands and squeezes them. “One more thing. Don’t read it.”

“Okay …”

“Promise me you won’t read it and will destroy it. Immediately.”

I nod slowly, wondering why in the fuck she wants me to burn a journal. What could possibly be in there that she doesn’t want us to see? Him especially. “I promise.”

Present

“You promised me.” She growls.

“I didn’t get the chance.” I lie.

She doesn’t believe it. “How in the hell did you not get the chance? It’s been five months.”

I don’t answer.

“Did you read it?” she demands.

“No.” Another lie. Of course, I did. And I haven’t looked at her the same since. I always knew Cole was a fucked-up kid, and her journal just proved I wasn’t wrong. And honestly, she’s not far off from him. That’s probably why they are so good together.

“Demi?” she snaps. “Did you read it?”

“Yes.” She answers without hesitation, but I have a feeling that Demi already divulged that information.

The more important question is how the fuck did she find it? What was Austin doing in my room? I had it hidden in a box. I knew I should have left it in Collins.

“You know what, Becky? I thought we were friends, but I guess I was wrong.” She shoulders past me.

I’m already in a pretty shitty mood. Your sister fucking the man you love in your own bed and leaving your sheets stained with her blood and her words written in black Sharpie will make you irrational. That’s why I’m not proud of the next thing that comes out of my mouth. “Cole read it too.” That fucker outed me that I was the one driving the car. Why the fuck should I keep his secrets?

I turn to face her, giving my sister my back.

Austin stands at the top of the stairs and spins around to glare at me. “What?” she snaps.

“Back at your father’s house. I left him alone in your room to get some trash bags. I was gonna be a nice friend and pack up some of your belongings, and when I returned, he was sitting on your bed reading it.” I was gonna have to grab it without Cole questioning me. I figured if I threw some shit in a trash bag, he wouldn’t notice me trying to sneak a journal out.

“Why didn’t you tell me this?” she grinds out.

I cross my arms over my chest. “I think the real question is why hasn’t he told you?”

“Don’t turn this around on him, Becky. I asked you to do one thing for me, and you couldn’t even do it.” She looks down at the journal and then back at me. “I will never forgive you for this.”

The words hurt more than knowing my sister fucked Deke. I can win Deke over. I cheated on him; he paid me back. He got to have a little fun, and now we can move on. But her? Austin was all I had left. “Why is it you forgave him?” I glare down at her journal. “Huh? He can hurt you, fucking blackmail you, and you forgive him so goddamn easily?”

“He never lied to me!” she yells. “He never pretended to be someone he’s not.”

I snort at that sorry excuse for an answer. “Be honest, Austin, it’s just us. It’s